KPBS Classics from the Vault
Eye of the Beholder: The Artistry of James Hubbell
Special | 45m 47sVideo has Closed Captions
Explore the work of San Diego artist and icon James Hubbell.
James Hubbell is an artistic visionary, working in and of nature with all that it has to offer: stone, clay, iron, water, glass, wood, cement or brick. From the curves of his buildings and his luminous stained glass windows and doors to the elegant twists and curls of his ironwork and stone, Hubbell takes his inspiration from the form, color and diversity of nature.
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KPBS Classics from the Vault is a local public television program presented by KPBS
KPBS Classics from the Vault
Eye of the Beholder: The Artistry of James Hubbell
Special | 45m 47sVideo has Closed Captions
James Hubbell is an artistic visionary, working in and of nature with all that it has to offer: stone, clay, iron, water, glass, wood, cement or brick. From the curves of his buildings and his luminous stained glass windows and doors to the elegant twists and curls of his ironwork and stone, Hubbell takes his inspiration from the form, color and diversity of nature.
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JAMES HUBBELL IS ONE OF SAN DIEGO'S MOST UNUSUAL AND INVENTIVE ARTISTS.
HIS CREATIONS ARE MESS MR.IZE MESMERIZING OF COLOR, FEATURE AND FORM.
IN HUBBELL'S FEELING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, HE PAYS HOMAGE TO THE BEAUTIFUL NEED FOR BEAUTY AND CONNECTION TO THE NATURAL WORLD.
FOR DECADES HIS EMOTIONAL AND INTUITIVE DESIGNS HAVE CHALLENGED ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE.
THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF HIS TALENT IS RARE.
FROM JULIAN SCULPT YOUR TO WATER-COLORS, FROM BUILDING DETAILS, EVEN AN ENTIRE PARK, THE MEDIUM HE CHOOSES CAN BE AS COMMON AS CLAY OR AS RARE AS PRECIOUS STONE.
BUT THE MESSAGE IS ALWAYS A REFERENCE FOR NATURE, A CELEBRATION OF BEAUTY AND CONNECTION TO THE HUMAN SPIRIT.
>> THE RUSSIANS OVER AND OVER TALK ABOUT CHANGING THE WORLD, DIFFERENT ARTISTS, IT'S HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY MEAN.
ACCEPTS DIVERSITY, THE MANY SIDES THAT THERE IS IN LIFE, HAPPINESS AND THE SADNESS AND IN BALANCING THEM SO THAT THEY BECOME RICHER BECAUSE YOU ACCEPT THE WHOLE PROCESS.
AND I THINK THAT'S POSSIBLY WHAT BEAUTY IS.
>> SOMETHING STARTS HAPPENING TO US AS INDIVIDUALS WHEN WE HAVE PLACES THAT ARE DESIGNED IN WAYS THAT HELP US ATTUNE TO THE LARGER ENVIRONMENT, WHETHER THAT ENVIRONMENT IS PEOPLE OR NATURE, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
>> THE POTENTIAL THAT OR GANNIC, MY FATHER'S ARCHITECTURE BRINGS OUT AND MY BROTHERS AND I, NOT HAVING THE SKILLS OR CORNERS OR STRAIGHT ELEMENTS, I THINK IT GIVES US A SENSE OF FREEDOM THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING WE REALLY WANT TO IN LIFE.
>> THERE AREN'T LIMITS OR CORNERS TO OUR LIVES.
>> WITH JIM, EVERY TIME YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH SOMETHING, YOU WONDER WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
WHAT IS HE DOING?
WHAT IS HE SAYING?
BUT THEN YOU SPEND SOME TIME WITH IT AND HOW IT IS PUT TOGETHER AND HOW IT IS TOUCHED AND HOW IT RELATES TO THINGS BECAUSE THE BUILDINGS ARE SO RICH, THERE IS SO MUCH TEXTURE, THERE IS SO MUCH INFORMATION THAT IT ISN'T SO SIMPLE.
IT IS THE WORK OF A LIFETIME.
>> WE LIKE CHILDREN TO SEE OUR HANDMADE HOUSE SO THAT THEY KNOW THERE ARE OTHER POSSIBILITIES IN LIVING JUST THE BOXES THAT WERE GIVEN BY COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES.
SO THIS LITTLE BOY IN SAYING HIS THANK YOU WROTE TO US, MR.
HUBBLE MAKES HOUSES THAT TREES AREN'T EMBARRASSED TO STAND NEXT TO.
THAT'S MY FAVORITE COMMENT OF WHAT ANYONE HAS SAID ABOUT OUR HOME.
>> FOR HUBBELL, ART HAS BEEN A LIFE LONG SEARCH FOR SELF UNDERSTANDING.
AS A CHILD, HIS FAMILY WAS FREQUENTLY ON THE MOVE AND HIS HOME LIFE TURBULENT.
THIS VAGUE A BOND EXISTENCE LEFT HIM, SHY, UNHAPPY AND UNHAPPY AT SCHOOL.
HE TOUCHED TO HIS YOUNG IMAGINATION TO ART AND NATURE, FINDING THE BEAUTY AND HARMONY THAT HE LONGED FOR AT HOME OUTSIDE OF HIS HOME.
>> WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I NEEDED TO CONNECT MYSELF TO SOME PLACE BECAUSE I WENT TO 13 SCHOOLS IN THE FIRST 12 YEARS OF LIFE.
I NEEDED SOMETHING TO GROUND MYSELF AND SO I THINK EARLY WORK THAT I HAD, IT KEYED INTO PUT SOME ROOTS DOWN.
>> I GREW UP AND I LIVED QUITE A BIT NEAR A FOREST.
I THINK IT REALLY HELPED ME BECAUSE IT GAVE ME THE SENSE THAT THERE WAS MAGIC THROUGH THE LIFE AND THE FOREST AND THE WAY THINGS MOVED.
>> HUBBELL FELT A PROFOUND CONNECTION TO THE GIFTS OF THE EARTH.
HE WANTED HIS ART TO ADD TO THE MAJESTY AND WONDER HE SAW AROUND HIM.
AS A YOUNG MAN HE MADE THE CONSCIOUS DECISION TO FOLLOW BEAUTY BUT NEVER TO TRY AND DEFINE IT.
>> THAT'S LIKE ASKING -- FOR MY OWN SENSE, IT IS NOT WHAT WE CALL PRETTY.
A ROSE, A PLASTIC ROSE ISN'T BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE IT DOESN'T DIE.
TO ME, BEAUTY IS THE BALANCE BETWEEN KIND OF A PACE OFF OF BEING HUMAN NOT BEING HUMAN.
>> I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH JIM FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS NOW.
I GOT STARTED WITH HIM AFTER I GOT LAID OFF FROM A CORPORATE JOB.
ONE OF OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY ENJOYED ABOUT WORKING WITH HIM IS THAT WE GET TO USE LOTS OF MATERIALS TOGETHER RATHER THAN STRICTLY ONE OR ANOTHER.
WE OFTEN USE STONE AND STEEL AND GLASS AND BRONZE OR BRASS ALL IN THE SAME ASSEMBLY.
IT IS REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEY DEVELOP.
>> THE REASON THAT I REALLY LIKE TO USE DIFFERENT MATERIALS AND WHY THEY WORK SO EASILY IS THAT I DON'T THINK OF THEM AS SEPARATE.
I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND A MATTER AND SPIRIT AS BEING SEPARATE.
>> AT THE HUBBELL STUDIOS NEAR JULIAN CALIFORNIA ART BEGINS WITH THE HUMAN TOUCH.
AT 70 YEARS OLD, HUBBELL IS AT THE PEAK OF HIS CREATIVITY.
WORKING IN THE WAY OF PROJECTS THAT ADORN PRIVATE HOMES AND PUBLIC SPACES ALIKE.
HE WAS TRAINED AS A SCULPTOR AND GETS TREMENDOUS SATISFACTION FROM THE HAND IN THE WORKS OF THE STUDIO.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS ALL THERE.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT CAME OUT FINE, A PRETTY COLOR.
>> LIKE A RENAISSANCE MASTER, HE WORKS SIDE BY SIDE WITH A STAFF OF TALENTED MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAND CRAFT EACH HUBBELL DESIGN WITH SKILL AND PRECISION.
>> MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE ARE ABLE TO DO SEVERAL THINGS.
JOHN DOES IRON AND CINDY DOES GLASS WORK AND FAY DOES SMALL METAL WORK.
WHEN I WORK WITH THE CRAFTS PEOPLE, FIRST OF ALL, THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT.
SO I THINK I TRY TO WORK WITH THEM AND LEAD THE WORK WHERE THEIR PERSONALITY IS.
>> I THINK THE REASON I DO IT IS JUST BECAUSE IT ALLOWS ME TO DO THINGS I COULDN'T DO WITHOUT THEM.
THEY THEY ARE A HUGE HELP.
I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR WHAT THEY CAN DO.
THIS GOLD PINK DIDN'T HAVE THE GRAIN DOWN HERE.
>> WORKING WITH COLORS IS THERAPY PEW TICK, I THINK IT IS, WHEN YOU WORK WITH IT SOMETIMES YOU DON'T NOTICE IT.
BUT IN OUR TIMES WHERE TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTERS ARE TAKING OVER SO MUCH OF OUR WORK, IT'S A GIFT TO BE ABLE TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH COLOR AND TEXT TEXTURE AND AND ESPECIALLY LIGHT.
>> THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT ABOUT WHY DO YOU NEED THINGS, LIKE HANDMADE POTS AND I THINK IT IS TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT WE AREN'T MACHINES, THAT WE ARE HUMAN THINGS BEGIN WITH OUR HANDS AND WITH OUR HEART AND MIND.
IT.
>> HUBBELL'S PROFESSIONALS CAREER WHEN HE WAS JUST TEN YEARS OLD.
HE WAS RECOGNIZED BY SAM RICHARDS THAT RECOGNIZED A DESIGN SENSE THAT COMPLIMENTED HIS OWN.
BLUES RICHARDS HAD BEEN A STUDENT OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT.
HE DESIGNED HOMES FOR THE CALIFORNIA CLIMATE, AIRY AND RELAXED AND HE BUILT THE NATURAL HOMES WITH REDWOODS AND CEDAR.
HE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS A NATURAL MARRIAGE.
IT WAS A RARITY AND A SITUATION THAT MANY PEOPLE FEEL IS UNFORCE NATE.
THE ADVANTAGE TO ARTIST AND CLIENT IS UNDENIABLE.
>> I MET BRUCE IN ONE OF THE HOUSES HE HAD BUILT IN DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA.
HE MENTIONED THAT HE HAD A YOUNG MAN THAT HE WAS WORKING WITH THAT WAS DOING VERY INTERESTING THINGS WITH STONE AND WITH METAL AND WITH WOOD.
>> I WORKED WITH A LOT WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE BUT JIM WAS SPECIAL.
>> WE BOTH RESPECTED EACH OTHER AND SECOND, WE PROBABLY LIKE TO PLAY.
I THINK THAT BRUCE, LIFE WAS FUN AND DOING A BUILDING WAS FUN AND I FEEL THE SAME WAY.
>> I THINK IT WAS BETTER.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
>> YEAH, JUST LIKE THAT BETTER.
>> OKAY.
>> HE WAS JUST A VERY HUMAN WARM PERSON AND THE WAY HE COULD WORK WITH A CLIENT AND THE WAY THAT HE BECAME PART OF HIS FAMILY, I THINK WAS SOMETHING THAT FOR ME WAS REALLY A PROFOUND THING TO LEARN.
>> IN THEIR 20 YEARS TOGETHER RICHARDS AND HUBBELL COLLABORATED ON DOZENS OF PROJECTS.
ONE SPECIAL CLIENT COULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF HIS PROTEGE.
>> WE WERE IN SYNC AND WHEN JIM TOLD US ABOUT THE DESIGN FOR THIS HOUSE AND JIM SAID HE WANTS TO BRING THE OUTSIDE INSIDE.
SO WHEN JIM DECIDE YOUD TO DESIGN AND EMBELLISH BEAUTIFUL PIECES FOR OUR HOUSE, THAT'S THE CONCEPT THAT HE USED.
>> HE WORKS WITH THE TREES, OUTSIDE THE WINDOWS, THE SUNRISE, THE SUNSET, TONALITY OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT.
>> BRUCE RICHARDS DIED IN 1983 BUT THE CROWLEYS CONTINUED THE RELATIONSHIP EVENTUALLY ADDING MORE THAN 300 CREATIONS TO THE HOME.
>> ONE OF THE JOYS IN WORKING WITH JIM IS TO SEE THE DEVELOPMENT IN HIS ARTWORK FOR EXAMPLE, THE FRONT DOOR THAT WE ARE BLESSED WITH 30 YEARS AGO.
AT THAT TIME JIM'S ARTWORK WAS QUITE PRIM ATIVE, HE CUT SIMILAR DIAGRAMS IN IT.
RECENTLY WE HAD TWO ADDITIONAL DOORS MADE BY JAMES.
THEY ARE QUITE DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT.
THEY ARE PRECIOUS STONES AND THEY ARE EMBEDDED GLASS AND THEY ARE QUITE FANTASTIC CARVED WOODS AND SCULPTURES IN THEM.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE FEELING OF THE ROUGHNESS AND RAWNESS THAT WE SAW IN JIM'S WORK 30 YEARS AGO.
>> MY FAVORITE PIECE IF I WOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE ONE WOULD BE THE -- WITH THE WINDOW IN MY STUDIO.
IT IS JUST MAGNIFICENT.
THE WORK IN MY STUDIO AND HAVE THAT LIGHT COMING THROUGH THE WINDOW IS EXCEPTIONAL.
SO THAT EXPLOSION OF COLOR IS SO IMPORTANT TO MY WORK AND TO HOW I FEEL EVERY DAY.
>> I KNOW VERY WELL WITHOUT BRUCE I WOULDN'T BE DOING WHAT I AM DOING NOW, HIS TRUST IN ME WAS REALLY ESSENTIAL IN THE BEGINNING.
HE REALLY CARED ABOUT THE LITTLE HUMAN THINGS ON HOW A PERSON LIVED.
AND IT IS THE TINY THINGS RIGHT AND THE BIG THINGS RIGHT, THEY CONNECTED TOGETHER.
YOU CAN'T SEPARATE THEM.
>> LIKE RICHARDS BEFORE HIM HUB HAD YOUAL EXCELS AT CREATING PLACES WHERE HUMANS AND NATURE MEET BUT HUBBELL GOES A STEP FURTHER TO WELL DESIGNED SPACES HE ADDS BEAUTY AND ACHIEVES A WHOLE NEW DIMENSION.
>> OF ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL SPACES, I THINK IT IS TO SOFTEN SOME OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF LIFE THAT YOU AND I DEAL WITH, THE HURRINESS AND THE DEADLINES AND THE KINDS OF THINGS WE ARE DRIVEN TO DO.
IT ALLOWS A KIND OF CENTERNESS THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN WE ARE RUSHING AROUND NOT SEEING.
IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE IN THIS SETTING TO NOT STOP AND SEE.
>> KATHY CONHIM IS A PSYCHOTHERAPIST FROM LA HOLE YA CALIFORNIA IS A 600 SQUARE FEET HOUSE IN HER BACK YARD THAT SHE CALLS THE HUBBELL HUT.
>> THE HUBBELL HUT WAS AN IDEA OF TRYING TO BUILD A GUEST HOUSE THAT HAD TRANSFORMATIONAL QUALITIES.
IT IS REALLY A METAPHOR.
IT WORKS AS A METAPHOR THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY ANGLES AND IT IS WONDERFULLY CURVED AND SCULPT YOURAL.
IT MAKES A STATEMENT ABOUT A FEELING THAT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN HAPPEN.
THAT'S PART OF HIS FLUID CREATIVITY THAT SOMETHING CAN HAPPEN AND HE IS NOT ATTACHED TO THE WHAT.
HE KNOWS THAT THERE'S MOVEMENT WHEN WORKING WITH LIGHT AND SOUND AND NATURE, NOT LIKE WITH CONTROLLING BOXES.
HE INVITES NATURE IN AND WHEN YOU INVITE NATURE IN YOU BRING IN SOMETHING UNEXCEPTED.
>> GETTING THIS STRUCTURE BUILT WAS NOT EASY.
ITS UNUSUAL DESIGN FRIGHTENED LENDERS, THE CONSULT SCULPT YOURAL SHAPE GAVE LIES TO EXISTING BUILDING CODES.
>> NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO LIVE IN A PERSONALIZED SCULPT YOUR BUT THOSE THAT DO SEE IT AS AN EXPRESSION OF ART AND AS AN EXPRESSION OF THEIR OWN INDIVIDUALITY.
>> WE DON'T SEE MORE OF JAMES' WORK IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE ATROPIED IN THE AREAS OF CREATIVITY.
IT IS MORE TROUBLE IN THIS CULTURE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
>> THIS CHALLENGES PEOPLE TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND THAT'S THE METAPHOR.
IF WE OFFERED THAT IN OUR LIFE, I THINK WE WOULD HAVE MORE POSSIBILITIES IN OUR WORLD AND WE SURELY NEED THAT KIND OF THINKING TODAY.
>> HUBBELL PUSHES THE BOUNDARIES BY SHOWING US ALTERNATIVE PATHS, IN A WORLD OF INCREASING CONFORMITIES WE NEED WHAT HUBBELL'S DESIGNS BRINGS, IMAGINATION AND SURPRISE AND NEW WAYS OF SEEING THE WORLD.
BUT MORE THAN THAT, JAMES HUBBELL'S VISION PUTS US IN TOUCH WITH OUR HUMANITY.
HIS WORK SHOWS US THAT WHEN HUMANS ADD LOVE AND BEAUTY AND INTENTION TO THE WIND AND SUN AND LANDSCAPE, WE CAN CREATE ART AND ARCHITECTURE THAT WHEN TRULY SERVE LIFE.
FOR JAMES HUBBELL ARTIST A JOURNEY, LIKE A RIVER AT ITS SOURCE, HIS WORKS BRING FROM DEEP INSIDE AND RUNS IN SEVERAL STREAMS, EXPRESSING DIFFERENT IDEAS YET ALL TRAVELING TOWARDS THE SAME SEA.
>> WE ARE NOT SURE THERE'S THAT MUCH DIFFERENT WHAT ARTIST ABOUT NOW.
I THINK IT IS A MATTER OF DEGREE, I THINK I'M A LITTLE QUIETER ABOUT IT.
I ALSO POSSIBLY IN SOME WAYS A LITTLE MORE PASSIONATE.
>> THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF JUST ENERGY THAT I HAD.
WHAT I FIND NOW WHEN LIKE WHEN I USE THE WATER COLOR BRUSH SO I WILL PICK UP TWO GRAINS OF COLOR.
I THINK THAT WHAT I DO NOW IT IS A LOT LIGHTER AND A LOT MORE PATIENT MAYBE WITH MYSELF AND WITH LIFE.
I THINK I KNOW MORE OF WHAT THE MUSIC IS.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT ART IN THE UNITED STATES AND EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD IS THAT SOMEHOW WE NEED TO BUY INTO THE IDEA THAT ARTIST ABOUT MAKING SPECIAL OBJECTS AND THE OBJECTS WILL EXIST IN SPECIAL PLACES LIKE MUSEUMS AND HOMES OF WEALTHY PEOPLE.
TO HEAR SOMEBODY WHO STEPS OUT OF THAT ASSUMPTION AND SAYS WAIT A MINUTE, ARTIST ULTIMATELY ABOUT COMMUNITIES, IT IS ULTIMATELY ABOUT THE WORLD, AS LONG AS WE ONLY ACCEPT ART IN THOSE SPECIAL PLACES, AREN'T WE MAYBE SAY THAT IT DOESN'T DESERVE TO BE EVERYWHERE ELSE?
>> THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE LOCATED THE FIELD STATION AT CHESS RIDGE.
IT IS ENVIRONMENTAL DEMONSTRATION BUILDING.
>> JAMES AND SON, THREW, AN ARCHITECT HAD JOINED A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO CREATE A DESIGN IN CALIFORNIA.
CHESS RIDGE ENCOMPASSES 3000 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE LAND IN A REGION WITH MORE THAN 3 MILLION PEOPLE.
IT'S AN OASIS FOR NATURE, ANIMALS AND HUMANS ALIKE.
CREST RIDGE WILL SERVE AREA HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS AS A LIVING LABORATORY, A PLACE TO EXPLORE NATURE, SCIENCE, THE HUMANITIES AND ART.
>> THESE ARE SKETCHES OF WHAT I AM THINKING THE BUILDING WILL LOOK LIKE.
>> THE HUBBELLS ARE DESIGNING THE IN TERTIVE CENTER FOR THE SITE THE.
FATHER AND SON HOPE THAT THE YOUNGSTERS WILL FEEL CONNECTED TO THE EARTH AND OPEN AND ACCEPT OPEN AND ACCEPTING TO THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE.
>> THIS IS A CHANCE TO SHOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT NATURE AND HOW I THINK AND ALSO ABOUT ART AND HOW MUCH THEY BOTH HAVE GIVEN ME AND KIND OF GIVE IT BACK PARTICULARLY TO STUDENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE.
>> CREST RIDGE IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT STUDENTS IN OUR REGION AT LEAST AND AROUND THE COUNTRY DON'T HAVE A PLACE OR DON'T HAVE A RELATIONSHIP TO NATURE LIKE THEY DID IN THE EARLIER TIMES.
I THINK WHY IT IS SO INTERESTING TO ME IS THAT BECAUSE PARTICULARLY THE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS.
I KNOW THERE WAS A TIME IN MY LIFE THAT I COULD EASILY HAVE GONE SOMEWHERE THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THAT PLEASANT.
AND IT REALLY WAS ART IN NATURE THAT GOT ME THROUGH THAT TIME.
>> IT IS LIKE GOING BACK AND SORT OF TRYING TO PUT YOUR OWN BEGINNINGS INTO CONTEXT.
IT IS PROBABLY AS INTERESTING AS ANYTHING THAT I HAVE EVER DONE.
>> WE DO IT SO THIS IS THE FRONT.
THIS IS THE TUNNEL.
>> THROW SOME CEMENT IN.
>> HE LOVES WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR IDEAS AND THEY REALLY GIVE HIM A GIFT OF SOME KIND OF -- BY THEIR ENTHUSIASM AND DESIRE TO GO OUT AND DO THE THING THAT HE SHOWED THEM HOW TO DO.
>> FOR TWO WEEKS URBAN CORP, THEY TEACH PRACTICE JOB SKILLS BUILT A BENCH OUT OF RECYCLABLE MATERIALS.
FOR MANY OF THESE STUDENTS IT WAS A CHANCE TO CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL AND MEANINGFUL WITH THEIR HANDS.
>> I AM REAL HAPPY TO BE ON THIS PROJECT WITH JAMES.
HE COULD HAVE THROWN ARCHITECTS BUT INSTEAD HE HAD A DIFFERENT VISION.
>> THIS POINT PROBABLY JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE.
>> WE ARE COMING OUT AFTER DIFFERENT COMMUNITY TO WORK ON THIS SO NOT ONLY DO WE GET TO HEAR ABOUT IT ON THE NEWS, CREST RIDGE BUT WE GET TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT IS LIKE AND WE WORKED ON CREST RIDGE.
>> WORKING WITH JAMES HUBBELL ON CREST RIDGE HAS GIVEN THESE PEOPLE MORE THAN JUST JOB TRAINING.
THEY HAVE LEARNED THAT ART CAN HELP THEM RECONCILE THEIR PLACE IN THE WORLD.
>> MR.
JAMES IS A REAL PATIENT MAN.
HE IS REAL SMART.
REAL BRIGHT.
HE LIKES WORKING AS MUCH WITH MATERIALS THAT ARE NATURAL.
I NOTICE THAT WHEN MR.
HUBBELL HE WILL TELL YOU NO, IT IS NOT THAT YOU DID IT WRONG, YOU ARE JUST LOOKING AT IT WRONG.
YOU HAVE CREATITY IN YOU AND IF YOU HAVE AN ART CREATITY, IF YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT, YOU CAN MAKE ANYTHING HAPPEN.
>> I REALLY THING THAT WE VERY MUCH UNDER ESTIMATE OURSELVES AND ALSO KIDS.
I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS SO MUCH INFORMATION THAT THEY GET AND VERY LITTLE TIME TO STOP AND KIND OF DIGEST IT AND TO MAKE IT THEIR OWN.
I THINK THAT GIVING THEM SOME SPACE AND PARTICULARLY IN NATURE AND IN THINGS WHERE THEY CAN EXPRESS IT IN ARTIST REALLY IMPORTANT.
IF YOU CAN DO THAT THEN ANYTHING WORKS.
>> PERHAPS IN YEARS TO COME SOCIETY WILL SHOW MORE INTEREST IN OBJECTS OR STRUCTURES THAT CELEBRATE THE IRREGULAR OR IMPERFECT.
MADE BY HUMAN HANDS AND FROM HUMAN MOTIVATIONS IN HARMONY WITH NATURE, REVERENT TO THE PAST AND EMBRACING OF ALL THAT IT IS TO BE HUMAN.
>> I THINK THE HUMANITY FROM MY FATHER'S ART COMES FROM HIS SPIRIT, HIS WANTING TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
HE HAD A VISION DURING THE REAGANERA OF TAKING A PIECE OF ARTIST TO RUSSIA TO WHERE THEY COULD BRIDGE THE GAP TO WHERE THE GOVERNMENTS WERE NOT GOING IN THAT DIRECTION.
>> JAMES IS KEEN ON THE IDEA OF A SPECIFIC CRADLE FOR BEAUTIFUL EXCHANGE AND MAYBE THIS EXCHANGE MAY PROVIDE SOME ANSWERS TO BOTH THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD MAYBE.
>> THERE'S A PARK ON SAN DIEGO'S SHELTER ISLAND CALLED THE PEARL OF THE PACIFIC.
HERE HUBBELL USES ART TO BRIDGE CULTURES.
HE INVITES ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO HELP BUILD AND DESIGN THE PROJECT.
HE USES NOT JUST ART BUT THE PROCESS OF MAKING ART TO BREAK DOWN CULTURAL AREAS.
>> THE SHELTER ISLAND IS DESIGNED AROUND THE TWO WALLS AIMING OUT TO THE PACIFIC WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT AND MAYBE TURN YOURSELVES A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN A DIFFERENT PLACE.
>> IN HUBBELL'S IDEA, ART BELONGS NOT ONLY ON THE WALLS BUT IN THE WALLS, NOT ONLY IN THE WAY A SPACE IS DESIGNED BUT HOW IT FITS INTO THE LAND AND THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE.
>> ARTIST REALLY NOT ABOUT THE OBJECT, IT IS ABOUT THE SPACE.
I THINK MY INTENT IS TO MAKE IT BIG ENOUGH SO THEY CAN GO TO THE WHOLE PACIFIC SO THEY CAN TAKE IN THAT SENSE WITHIN THEMSELVES.
IT'S A GATE WAY TO A WORLD THAT IS JUST MAGICAL.
I REALLY HAVE COME TO REALLY LIKE WORKING WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT CULTURE BACKGROUND, IF THEY ARE CHINESE OR ASIAN, IT GIVES MYSELF TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR CULTURE IS.
>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, OUR WORLD IS FILLED WITH CYNICS AND PEOPLE UPSET WITH POLITICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL WIT CONDITIONS.
YOU NAME IT, WE CAN REALLY ZERO IN WITH WHAT IS WRONG WITH US.
BUT TO ZERO IN WITH WHAT WE CAN DO IS RIGHT IS A MUCH Lx % >> SHE RECRUITED JAMES HUBBELL.
>> JAMES BROUGHT TREMENDOUS COMMITMENT AND BELIEF AND EXAMPLES TO OTHERS AND VOLUNTEERISMS AND BROUGHT A WORLD TO THESE CHILDREN WHO HAD SO LITTLE ATTENTION.
THE CHILDREN ARE HERE IN TIQUA, THIS IS A FEATURE OF NORTH AMERICA.
JAMES WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT RECOGNIZED THE SITUATION AND DO SOMETHING TO HELP.
>> AFTER 12 YEARS THE SCHOOL IS ONLY 40% COMPLETED.
ONCE A MONTH HUBBELL'S RECRUITS VOLUNTEERS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS TO WORK ON THE SCHOOL.
>> YOU NEED A LITTLE CEMENT FROM SCRATCH AND THE STEPS DOWN HERE, WE WILL FILL IN THE STEPS AND THE BENCH AS WELL.
THIS IS QUITE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FROM ME.
WE ARE SHOVELING GRAVEL AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THIS SAND IS AND MIX IN A LOT OF BACK LABOR, THAT IS WHAT I HAVE GATHERED SO FAR, BACK LABOR.
>> WE ARE TILING A BENCH, A MOSAIC TILING, MR.
HUBBLE HAS SHOWED US THE BASICS AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE AND IT IS A VERY FUN EXPERIENCE.
>> OF COURSE HE IS VERY, VERY TALENTED BUT HE IS MORE THAN THAT, HE IS A POET, HE IS A HUMORIST, HIS LOVE OF PEOPLE AS WELL AS HIS SENSITIVITY ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND US AND WHERE WE LIVE AND ART, IT ALL COMES TOGETHER.
>> I HAVE KNOWN ABOUT JAMES HUBBELL FOR YEARS.
IT IS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A PROJECT SO IT MAKES A BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CHILDREN HERE.
I THINK IT CREATES A RELAXING ATMOSPHERE BUT IT ALSO OPENS THEIR MIND TO A WORLD LARGER THAN THE ONE THEY ARE SITTING IN.
I THINK IT HELPS THE IMAGINATION FOR THE CHILDREN.
>> I THINK TIQUA IS A GIFT THAT SAN DIEGO HAS AND WE ARE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE IT NEXT TO US.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE WORLD.
THERE ARE NOT MANY PLACES THAT COULD FIND WHAT THE TREASURE OF WHAT BOTH SIDES ARE ABOUT AS EASILY AS WE COULD.
>> THE SCHOOL IS LIKE A JEWEL.
THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THEY CAN COME AND THEIR MINDS CAN WANDER.
IT INSPIRES THE KIDS TO BE CREATIVE THEMSELVES AND TO DREAM OF OTHER THINGS THAT SURROUND THEM BECAUSE SOME OF THEM ARE SO VERY POOR.
>> THE SCHOOL IS A MODEL PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE CHILD.
IT IS THE BEAUTY OF THE SCHOOL THAT HAS CAPTIVATED THE COMMUNITY, PERSUADING PARENTS TO BE MORE OPEN MINDED AND INTERESTED IN EDUCATION [ SPEAKING SPANISH ] >> IT IS DIFFERENT.
IT IS NOT OF THE ORDINARY.
IT IS SOMETHING MORE MAGICAL FOR THE KIDS AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL, THE COLOR AND THE STRUCTURE.
MY KIDS LIKE IT SPANISH SMASH.
>> I LIKE TO SEE KIDS RUNNING, NOT ON THE STREET.
THE KIDS FIND INTERESTING THINGS ON THE BUILDINGS, THE BUILDINGS ñrAND ARCHITECTURE MAKES IT LIKE A GAME, FULL OF SURPRISES.
>> TO GO TO A SCHOOL BORING, BASICALLY THE SCHOOL IS TELLING ME THAT WHEN YOU ARE BORING.
IF YOU GO TO A SCHOOL WHERE PEOPLE HAVE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO IT THEN YOU ARE TELLING THE KIDS THAT THEY ARE IMPORTANT.
>> I AGREE.
I KIND OF LEARNED ABOUT MAGIC FROM NATURE.
IF YOU LIVE IN AN URBAN AREA OR YOU DON'T HAVE THE FOREST, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU REALIZE THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE BEAUTIFUL AND MAGIC.
SO THAT WHEN YOU GET OLDER YOU CAN REMEMBER.
>> THEY DON'T VIEW HIM A WORLD RENOUN ARTIST, THEY SEE HIM AS A VERY KIND AND LOVING GENTLEMAN THAT HAS COME AND GIVEN OF HIS TIME WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN.
WORKING WITH HIM I HAVE LEARNED TO HAVE PATIENCE AND I HAVE LEARNED TO FIND THE BEAUTY IN THE WORLD AND THE BEAUTY IN EVERY HUMAN BEING THAT I MEET AND JUST THE VERY BEAUTY IN LIFE LIFE.
>> THE SCHOOL HASN'T BECOME AS ORGANIZED AS WE ARE.
THERE'S SO MUCH CHANCE TO KIND OF IMPROVISE ON WHAT EDUCATION IS, WHAT KIDS ARE.
>> THE POINT OF BEAUTIFUL PLACES, IT'S A CHALLENGE, THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE NORMAL.
CLASSES DON'T HAVE TO BE LIKE BOXES, WITH OR WITHOUT WINDOWS, THEY CAN BE MORE -- >> IT'S NOT ECONOMICS AND FUNCTION AREN'T IMPORTANT.
BUT THEY DO NOT EXPRESS ALL OF OUR CULTURE IT BELIEVES OURSELVES TO BE.
HUBBELL SHOWS US THAT BEAUTY KNOWS NO BORDERS.
IF WE TREAT OUR SURROUNDINGS AS IF THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE WELL DESIGNED EVEN BEAUTIFUL WE CAN TRANSFORM THE FUTURE.
>> I THINK JAMES IS A GENIUS.
NEITHER THE ART NOR THE STAINED GLASS, I THINK HE GIVES A WORLD A GIFT OF POSSIBILITIES AND CREATIVITY.
>> HE IS A LIVING EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE.
IF YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, BELIEVE IN YOUR WORK.
I CAN IMAGINE IN A FUTURE ASKING HOW CAN EVERYTHING BE VIEWED WITH THAT CRAFTING AND ATTENTION.
I THINK JAMES IS JUST ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT IS LEADING THE WAY OF THAT CONCEPT.
HE IS A STEP UP TO BE THE FIRST IN LINE, I BELIEVE, TO SAY LET'S MAKE THIS WORLD BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE DOING IT DIFFERENTLY IS NOT AN OPTION.
>> JAMES HUBBELL SHOWS US THAT WE CREATE OUR WORLD BY HOW WE IMAGINE IT.
THAT THE UNCONVENTIONAL CAN BE A VISIONARY.
THAT DIFFERENCES CAN HELP US SEE SEE.
HE IS A A DREAMER AND A PRAG MAIST, A THINKER AND DOER, IN THE EYE OF THE BE BE BEHOLDER, BEAUTY CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.
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